The conventional progressive wisdom is that the Trump Administration will be bad for cities and for transit users. But in recent decades, a unified Republican government has been better for public transit than a divided government.

An efficient and equitable transport system must be diverse to serve diverse travel demands. Planners need better tools to quantify and communicate the benefits of walking, cycling and public transit to sometimes skeptical decision makers.

Real estate is fundamental to economic prosperity, so a well-versed economic developer can give their community a competitive edge. From downtown development to corporate site location, IEDC’s 2013 Annual Conference will help ED pros grasp the latest trends in real estate and what it means for their efforts to build vibrant, sustainable, and economically successful communities.

Economic developers often hear from their peers and site selection consultants, but seldom from corporate real estate advisers on site selection and facility location deal-making. Hear from senior real estate directors at global Fortune 500 companies on international markets and supply chain challenges faced by their businesses in an era in which they can choose facility locations worldwide. This session will offer the opportunity to learn the major site selection challenges faced by the corporate end-user: how to effectively communicate with the senior corporate real estate officer at a major global company, and how to look at the facility deal from the perspective of a company's senior manager. Attendees will hear unfiltered information, needs and opinions directly from the real decision makers - the buyers.

Session: CDFIs to Crowdfunding: Tools for Community InvestmentSunday, October 6, 3:45 p.m.

New crowdfunding tools such as Fundrise allow for a greater level of direct investment in local real estate projects and other opportunities. How can economic developers harness these tools to engage citizens in their communities and develop new sources of capital for local real estate entrepreneurs? Hear from the co-founder of Fundrise, whose successes include the acquisition, development, and financing of more than $500 million worth of property.

With a focus on long term value and sustainability, 5 Stone Green Capital looks for opportunities where others don't. Integrating the power of technology and sustainable design to reduce operating costs and enhance profitability, 5SGC targets markets that have indicators of potential high demand for residential housing, non-discretionary retail, and green light manufacturing, together with a favorable regulatory and political environment that is supportive of green real estate development.

Planning: A professional practice and an academic study focused on the future of built environments and connected natural environments—from the smallest towns to the largest cities and everything in between.

Planetizen: The independent resource for people passionate about planning and related fields.